Does self-care feel like a guy thing to you?

Is it just me, or does the health and wellness industry seem to be a place that is primarily occupied by women? While I love that there are spaces where women are the leaders, I think it’s important to call more men into the space of wellness and self-care as well.

There’s all the obvious highlighted health issues that get put in the realm of men’s health that Chinese medicine addresses: high blood pressure, sports injury, fertility and sexual function, heartburn (I’m going to add insomnia and constipation here too - I see that as a major issue for a lot of men). 

But there’s a missing link I’m trying to get to, which is that when men make it a priority to take care of themselves, we *all* benefit. While it can be dangerous to generalize, it just seems like a lot of men think of health care as an indulgence and wait longer to get in for treatment. This results in a little bit tougher road for effective treatment and a huge segment of our population that are dealing with pain and health issues that prevent them from showing up as their best selves.

I feel fortunate that my practice has always actually had a strong representation of men, and it’s important to me to keep that going. The world needs men that take care of themselves physically and emotionally. 

What do you think? Am I on to something, or way off base? If you’re a man, I’d love to know your thoughts on self-care, and for everyone else, I’d love to know what you are seeing in the men in your life. 

p.s. check out the sha (redness) around these needles. This is definitely a guy that needed some release.